Police: Parish accountant steals $150,000

NEWARK – A former accountant for the St Francis de Sales parish in Newark is behind bars, accused of stealing $150,000 from the church.

Amber McCracken, of Newark, was arrested Thursday following a seven-month investigation into missing money during which police say she admitted stealing more than $100,000.

McCracken, 39, was questioned during the investigation, which began last August, and told police she had stolen over $100,000, Division of Police spokesman Sgt. Doug Wells said.

Further investigation by Newark police, with assistance from the Special Investigations Unit of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation found that over $150,000 was missing, Wells said.

McCracken was arrested on Thursday and taken to Licking County Justice Center.

Wells says the case will be forwarded to the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office.